Job Description

The Duke-NUS Centre for Vision Research brings together the strength and capabilities as well as expertise in ophthalmology and vision sciences research within the SingHealth Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre. It paves the way for the creation of an all-encompassing amalgamated clinical, experimental and fundamental vision sciences platform that is able to holistically address all areas of vision disorders. This is aligned with the current goals of Singapore’s biomedical sciences initiative, in which the application of early and late-stage translational research with direct clinical and population impact is a top priority. The Centre is looking for a dynamic Senior Research Fellow / Research Fellow in the field of glaucoma genetics to join the newly established group led by its Principal Investigator, Assistant Professor Zhenxun Wang. The selected applicant will work in an international environment with multidisciplinary basic research scientists, clinicians, and research clinicians at the Singapore Eye Research Institute. The current project’s aim is to characterise novel risk associated genetic variants in order to understand the glaucoma disease process, an extremely common yet poorly understood ocular disease affecting ~80 million patients worldwide. The overall goal of the Wang Lab is to find new therapeutic approaches specific to various glaucoma subtypes. This is anchored upon deeply understanding glaucoma pathogenesis by characterising novel risk genes uncovered by exome sequencing of large multinational patient cohorts, enabling the detection of rare coding variants with much higher effects than common GWAS variants, thereby ensuring clinical relevance of findings. The use of exome sequencing technology has already led to a key discovery of a novel gene in exfoliation glaucoma; this work was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Other novel genetic hits with large effect sizes are also currently undergoing validation and characterization by his team.
The selected candidate will perform a variety of research activities within the overall scope of a research project under the supervision of the Principal Investigator or his designate, including but not limited to the following: -

• Characterise a candidate gene associated with primary open angle glaucoma.
• Establish cell culture models initially and transit into establishing and characterising animal knockout models.
• Independently execute and analyse innovative experimental research.
• Conduct accurate documenting and reporting of experimental results and/or research findings.
• Write and review research papers, present research outcomes and conceptualise new ideas for independent research which could have a considerable influence and impact on the relevant field attracting research funding.
• Perform other related duties incidental to the work described therein.

Job Requirements

• PhD and/or post-graduate medical degree with at least 3 years of relevant research experience and training.
• Possess knowledge of the scientific background relevant to the research area and laboratory experimental skills, where applicable.
• Proven track record in the form of high impact publications.
• Demonstrated capability of research independence progressively.
• Have strong writing and critical thinking skills, as well as good communication and presentation skills.
• A strong team player who is open-minded, energetic, highly motivated and can work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary team and diverse workforce.

We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

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